Mechwarrior Online - F2P

Post by **GORDON** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 9:02 am

I have like 9mil right now.

Stranger · Post by **Stranger** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 9:09 am

Not sure how many games of the 25 game cadet bonus you have done but you should have 12-14 million by time you're done. I'm not sure though, can't remember what i had.

Post by **Leisher** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 10:00 am

So far I am liking the long range stuff, hanging back, trying to watch the big picture, and making it rain on whatever red dots are near my lance.

If you go back and read way back in this thread, that's where I predicted you'd enjoy the game the most. It's the most like a sniper. Although, there are long range direct fire guns as well...

So you would most likely be a fan of the 65 Ton heavy Catapult or the 85 Ton assault Stalker. Both of these carry the most missle hardpoints and can do the LRM missle boat better than any other. The Catapult is a little more mobile and can use jump jets, I'd recommend the CPLT-C4 for a starter here. It has 4 missle hard points and 2 energy hard points. You could put plenty or LRM's on it and a couple medium lasers for when anything gets close to you.

For the Stalker, they have one as the trial mech right now which it sounds like you got to use. These are notorius slow mechs because they can only fit a 310 engine in it for max size. And the torso twist is really slow making them lights a huge pain in the ass. But they can take alot of punishment and all of them have 8-10 hard points so you can load a ton of damage on these things. There are plenty of stalkers to choose from but none of them except the Hero mech can carry any ballistics.

For your first mech, if that's the style you want to go with, a Catapault is a decent pick. They were weak a few weeks ago, but with the LRM changes they're everywhere again.

Don't worry about picking "wrong". Eventually, you'll probably want at least one mech in each class, so picking the Cat as your heavy is fine. You can work up cash for the Stalker later.

Or hell, go the Stalker, but understand that you probably won't be able to customize it the way you want out of the gate.

Then you've gotta put the endo-steel structure, double heat sinks and artemis targeting if you're gonna be playing with LRM's. Plus all the weapons you want and possibly an XL engine. So a 5 million c-bill mech will easily cost close to 8 million, if you decide on an XL engine add another 4-5 million.

All the different options have pros and cons, so do research before buying. Figure out which mech you want, then which variant matches your game play the best. Then customize it, but be aware of what you're adding or removing.

So for example, you want to add an XL engine because it weighs less, however it also costs a LOT more, and takes up more space.

Not sure how many games of the 25 game cadet bonus you have done but you should have 12-14 million by time you're done.

That estimate is high. I'd say $8-10 million is more reasonable. I believe I was in the high $9 million range when mine ended.

Edited By Leisher on 1395756206

Post by **GORDON** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 11:42 am

I believe I have one more cadet bonus.

Post by **Cakedaddy** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 1:20 pm

You can track your cadet bonuses in the achievement tab.
I'd say the LRMs are more like artillery than sniping.

As far as building a lance. What would be a good combo for the four of us?

Right now, I can field the Cicada and that free mech we got for playing a few games. I can do long range energy (the PPC I think) or short range energy with 6 medium pulse. Or, weak AC ballistics. I've done 1 AC10 or 2 AC2. I like the AC2 better so far. Doesn't do much damage, but it annoys them (I'm assuming) and it gets their attention. I stay mobile and hit and run.

If Gordon goes long range, I'm guessing we all do so we stay together? Can any of us take ECM?

Edited By Cakedaddy on 1395768336

Stranger · Post by **Stranger** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 2:08 pm

I'd say a good lance build would be 2 direct fire mechs that run AC's and lasers, a support fire LRM mech and a mobile sniper. At least thats kinda how i see our setup being right now with the mechs we own and like to play. I'd see me and Leisher running the direct fire with his Cataphract and my Battlemaster, Cake having the Cicada with mobile flanking, spotting and sniping and Gordo with LRM support fire.

The goal would be that we all focus fire with Cake spotting and calling targets while me and Leisher move in to engage and Gordo raining hell down from above and staying behind us direct fire shooters. That would give us 1 medium, 1 heavy and 1 assault and depending on what mech Gordo decides to go with possibly another heavy or assault. That would be a good combo once the launch module starts.

But i've seen Lances with all lights running around just being an annoyance to every assault on the map. That won't be possible once launch module starts, but we could do 3 lights and a medium. I just suggested this combo going on what we all own as of now. But its nice to change things up and do other rolls too.

There is one Cicada that can use ECM, the CDA-3M. So Cake might wanna look into buying that one eventually. There aren't many mechs that can use ECM and that is always a bonus to any team.

Post by **Cakedaddy** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 2:18 pm

I was just thinking:

Gordon heavy long range and fends for himself at close range because the other three of us are assaulting at close range. Problem with me spotting is that I can either spot, or shoot. If I shoot, they fire on me and I have to take cover losing my lock. Plus, if you guys are close range, having a third in there with you increases odds. If Gordon is LRMing our target, our focused fire should take them out pretty quickly.

But really, it will all depend on how the enemy team plays. If they stay clustered, a direct assault by three of us would be suicide. If they spread out, we can attack smaller groups. So really, no matter what, we have to wait for them to split up. Stay with our team, stay in cover, until we see some weak targets by themselves and then we swarm them.

Stranger · Post by **Stranger** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 2:27 pm

Agreed, this is all good in theory but once the fight starts anything goes. The big thing is staying somewhat close to each other and calling out targets so we can focus fire anyone that we can.

And leaving an LRM mech to fend for themselves is dangerous because if someone gets close to them they usually don't have much to fend for themselves with. LRM's don't even work against anything closer than 180 meters. So it would be up to us to try and pick and choose our targets and then double back to anything that would get behind us and try and pick apart an LRM mech.

Stranger · Post by **Stranger** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:06 pm

Also since i've decided i'm going to master my Battlemaster before my other mechs, i will at some point be using the BLR-1S which is set up with alot of missle hard points so i will be setting that one up for LRM use. So there will be times when we will be running with 2 LRM boats and maybe Leisher decides to use his Jenner and Cake goes with whatever else he might like to use.

So i guess it doesn't really matter exactly how our lance is set up, just as long as we all call our targets and focus whatever one it might be.

Post by **GORDON** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:12 pm

Is there a way for a "spotter" to target somebody, and we all automatically target that same guy?

Post by **Cakedaddy** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:18 pm

Well, he could hand out with the rest of the team. He doesn't have to isolate himself.

And agreed. Focused fire is key.

Post by **Cakedaddy** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:19 pm

GORDON wrote:Is there a way for a "spotter" to target somebody, and we all automatically target that same guy?

No idea. But, each enemy is assigned a letter. So you can find and lock that 'letter' to know you are hitting the same target.

And I also believe, that once you lock a target, you will stay on that target. Meaning, if you lose your lock, don't hit your R key again. The next time that target is lockable, you will auto lock back on.

Edited By Cakedaddy on 1395775242

Post by **GORDON** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:25 pm

Last night I was seeing...

LOCK...

Fire LRM...

Lose lock so missiles wont target...

Oh there's LOCK again.

Was that just unlucky timing, was it some sort of break-LOCK-device, or were peeps powering down at the right times? I heard powering-down was a thing.

Stranger · Post by **Stranger** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:32 pm

No, there is no way to target a mech for anyone else, but when that mech is targeted by anyone on your team and they keep that lock then your lock will stay locked. If noone is targeting a mech and you see one, target it and shoot then you lose your line of sight, your lock is lost.

Thats why sometimes when playing solo its hard to LRM, people don't target anyone or they are switching their target. So for the LRM to work well they need someone to have line of sight and be able to hold it for the LRM.

Post by **Cakedaddy** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 4:44 pm

Gordon, like Stranger said. They are either hiding, and whoever saw them lost their line of site. Or, the person that was spotting them for you changed their target. Spotters need to lock a target and keep it locked for your missiles to hit. That's why it's hard to be a spotter. You can't shoot AND be a spotter. I think the best spotter would be a really fast mech with NO weapons so they can be beefed up on armor. Just run around in the enemy cluster. You'll be able to keep your target locks, the enemy will be shooting this shit out of each other with friendly fire and your armor will keep you alive. Mean while, your allies can come over the hill and do a shit ton of damage while the entire enemy team is trying to kill you.

Post by **Leisher** » Thu Mar 27, 2014 2:49 pm

So I'm thinking of buying two other Jenner variants, stripping my F and running each one with borrowed equipment until I get the basic skills then moving back to my F for elite and master skills.

I'll be on tonight.

Stranger · Post by **Stranger** » Thu Mar 27, 2014 3:41 pm

ill be doing the same thing when i can finally afford my next Battlemaster. No way am i gonna buy an XL for 3 different variants!

I'll also be on tonight

Post by **Leisher** » Thu Mar 27, 2014 7:10 pm

I do not recommend running around in a non-configured mech. It's difficult. My new Jenner overheats really fast and if I do, the dissipation can take 10 seconds! I'm only two skills away from getting the basic skills on this mech done though, so one more and we're back to the fully customized F.

Stranger · Post by **Stranger** » Fri Mar 28, 2014 9:32 am

The latest podcast is out, its a good episode check it out.

http://www.nogutsnogalaxy.net/

And i found this little piece of information thats interesting. It was written back in December so its a little dated but they give some dates on when they want certain things to happen and so far they are pretty much right on.

http://mwomercs.com/forums....-sphere

Stranger · Post by **Stranger** » Fri Mar 28, 2014 2:34 pm

http://mwomercs.com/news/2014/03/813-win-5-games-get-free-mech-bay

Another nice and easy giveaway this weekend. win 5 games and get a free mech bay! thats free money!

Also there are some sales. All of the trial mechs are 35% off and a few hero mechs.. The Orion Protector that i already have and the Ilya Muromets the Cataphract hero that Leisher might want.

And i read that there is a sale on the 3 day premium time package. Just saw this on the forums and can't confirm this.